Ronaldinho may visit Kolkata before Durga Puja, says the man who brought Pele and Maradona to City of Joy

Ronaldinho, the Brazilian World Cup winner and two-time Ballon d’Or winner, is set to visit Kolkata in the second week of October. Sports promoter and business consultant Satadru Dutta confirmed the development to The Indian Express in an exclusive chat on Tuesday.

Dutta, 43, has brought the likes of Maradona, Pele, Cafu and many more to Kolkata. He was also the brains behind reigning FIFA World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez’s visit to the City of Joy in July this year.

“Multiple reports are circulating in the media about who will visit Kolkata, but I can tell the fans that I met Ronaldinho’s brother cum manager Assis and the plan is to bring the Brazilian great before the Durga Puja,” said Dutta.

Roberto de Assis Moreira, known as Assis, is a former footballer himself and Ronaldinho’s brother, manager and agent.

“We are in the final stages of discussion and all that remains as the dates. I want him to come on the 16th, 17th and 18th. But Ronaldinho also has some professional commitments for which there are a few finer details that need to be thrashed out and then he can surely arrive before the festivities begin in the city,” Dutta explained.

Ronaldinho will have a packed itinerary, including a visit to the Mohun Bagan and East Bengal ground. He will also try to play 30 minutes of football.

Also on the cards will be a visit to the Narendrapur Green Park Durga Puja pandal, which is set to be designed like the Fifa World Cup final’s venue – the Lusail Stadium in Qatar. An 80-foot statue of Argentine great Lionel Messi is supposed to be the star attraction at the venue.

“But if Ronaldinho visits the pandal, then we will include other football stalwarts as well and not just limit it to Messi,” added Dutta.